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<center>POPE LEO RETURNS TO ROME</center>
 
Pope Leo XIV wraps up his11-day trip to South America today. He will depart from Peru this afternoon and land in Rome on Tuesday morning. One of the highlights of the trip was his emotional return to Peru on Wednesday, where he was greeted by an estimated 3 million people lining the motorcade route following his arrival.
 
So, what’s next for the pope when it comes to foreign travel? It was reported last week that 90 members of Congress have petitioned the House leadership to formally invite the pope to the United States. The bipartisan letter appealed for a visit, stating “Pope Leo's unifying message of service, compassion for fellow mankind, and the importance of human dignity would be especially timely." Time will tell how soon the pope will return to the country of his birth. Here is an article regarding the initiative from the 
<a href='https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/over-90-us-lawmakers-call-pope-leo-address-next-congress-bipartisan-letter'>NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER.</a>
 
Also, with the Advent season starting in two weeks, the Holy See has announced that the Pope will be celebrating Advent Sunday Masses at four different churches in Rome. He is also scheduled to participate in the annual veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Column of the Immaculate Conception near the Spanish Steps on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Tuesday, December 8, 2026.
 
<center>NEW VATICAN CITY STAMPS</center>
 
The anticipated release of new Vatican City stamps did not take place last week. However, one clue regarding a release date comes from Vaccari News in Italy. An article regarding the new stamps from the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM) was published last week. It appears the next release from SMOM is scheduled for November 18 (Wednesday). One of the new SMOM stamps features Cardinal Giacomo Antonelli, the longest-serving Secretary of State for the Holy See. What’s the connection? That stamp is a joint issue with Vatican City. So perhaps this Wednesday is the day for the next Vatican City release. Click here to access the article from <a href='https://www-vaccarinews-it.translate.goog/news/Fu_pure_cardinale_protettore_dell___Ordine/40872?_x_tr_sl=it&_x_tr_tl=en'>VACCARI NEWS</a>.

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